Friday's scores

CSC
Platt Tech 4, Wilcox Tech 1
NVL
Seymour 7, Holy Cross 3
Shoreline
Coginchaug 18, Cromwell 4
Hale-Ray 1, North Branford 0
Old Lyme 4, Morgan 3
SCC interdivision
Amity 7, Sacred Heart Academy 3 (8)
Cheshire 1, Mercy 0
East Haven 8, Law 3
Guilford 4, Branford 2
North Haven 6, Hand 0
Sheehan 9, Hamden 0
Wilbur Cross 7, Hillhouse 6
CCC
Maloney 10, Middletown 0


Click here for Friday's roundup/linescores

Click here to vote for Friday's STAR

North Branford junior pitcher Meagan Halligan is this week's Register Athlete of the Week.

Hand emerged with a thrilling 3-1 victory over rival Guilford on Wednesday. Freshman Emily Ruggiero hit a bases-clearing three-run double in the fifth inning to provide all the run support that sophomore pitcher Annie Horton would need.

"She's only a freshman," Hand coach Mike Niekrash said of Ruggiero. "She was patient and got the high pitch and nailed it to left-center (field). It was a great hit. But it was setting the table that really set that up."

Catcher Lia Tosiello led off the inning with a walk. Tori Mainiero followed with an infield single and Horton reached on an infield error on a bunt to load the bases for Ruggiero's heroics.

"Our bunting was outstanding today," Niekrash said. "We put the ball in play and made them field the ball. We took advantage of what they gave us really."

Hand has just four hits off Guilford hurler Leah Torre, who is perhaps the best pitcher in the SCC. The win for the Tigers was important on several levels. One, Hand improved to 6-4 overall and 3-1 in the Southern Connecticut Conference Hammonasset Division.

Secondly, the Tigers earned a victory in the first of two games they play in the regular season against their self-proclaimed biggest rival. The teams meet again on May 13 in Madison. The schools' football teams play each other annually during Thanksgiving week.

"No question, they're our biggest rival," Niekrash said. "They're our biggest rival in all the sports. Softball has gotten to be a real heated rivalry in the last couple of years. The program's gotten a lot better in the last couple of years over there (in Guilford). Every game's a battle, just like this one."

Guilford and Hand met in the 2009 Class L state softball quarterfinals. Hand entered as the No 3 seed, while the Indians were seeded No. 22. Guilford won 3-0.

"They're always pretty tough," Tosiello said. "It's always a great game between us. With Guilford, we always want to beat them and they always want to beat us. It's really an intense game between us. If you had a rivalry with a team that wasn't as good, it really wouldn't be a rivalry. So, obviously, it's a lot more fun when a team is as good as you are."

Hand 3, Guilford 1
(at Guilford)

Recap: Freshman Emily Ruggiero hit a three-run double in the fifth inning to lead the visiting Tigers to this SCC Hammonasset Division victory.

Hand: Alyssa Ahern, Katelyn Wall, Tori Mainiero and Ruggiero had the Tigers' only hits. Pinch runner Taylor White, Mainiero and Annie Horton scored.

Guilford: Leah Torre, Katie Sperry and Ashlee Munck each had two hits.

WP: Horton (4-3) 7 IP, 8 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

LP: Torre (6-4) 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K

Records: Hand 6-4 (3-1); Guilford 6-4 (2-2)

Roundup and linescores

VOTE for Tuesday's STAR


LIVE CHAT Tonight, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Career coach Ron Rosarbo will be our guest at www.nhregister.com.

Coginchaug defeated Old Lyme 10-0 on Monday. Read the game story here.

Linescores and roundup

Vote for Monday's STAR.

Join us for a LIVE CHAT Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Career coach Ron Rosarbo will be our guest.

Coginchaug 10, Old Lyme 0
(at Durham)

Recap: Pitcher Mari Handley allowed just four hits and struck out 13 to lead the Blue Devils to this Shoreline Conference interdivision win.

Coginchaug: Liz Sansevero was 2-for-2 with four RBIs, Ashley Vanaman had two hits, two runs and two RBIs, and Handley had a double, a run and two RBIs.

Old Lyme: Sammy Yuknat and Megan O'Neill each had two hits.

WP: Handley (4-4) 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K

LP: Yuknat (2-3) 6 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 5 K

Records: Old Lyme 2-3; Coginchaug 4-4

Each Monday, we'll highlight the past week's top performances.


Sam Hemstock, North Branford: Had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs for the Thunderbirds in an 11-0 win over Trumbull on Thursday.

Veronica Hribko, East Haven: Had three hits and two RBIs to lead the Easties to a 9-5 win over Branford on Monday.

Tatum Seaver, North Haven: Had two hits, three RBIs and a run to lead the Indians to a 6-2 win over Wilbur Cross on Wednesday.

Leah Torre, Guilford: Allowed two hits and struck out 11 to lead the Indians to a 4-1 win over West Haven on Thursday.

Katie Winkle, Sacred Heart Academy: Had two doubles and five RBIs for the Pacers in a 15-7 win over Career on Tuesday.

East Haven is off to a quick start in SCC Oronoque Division; Cheshire ahead in SCC Housatonic. To read Monday's notebook, click here.

Wilbur Cross is our spotlight team of the week.

Waterford remains No. 1 in Top 10 Poll.

Vote for the TEAM of the WEEK. Foran is one of the nominees.

On May 14, Seymour softball will mark its 40th anniversary. The Wildcats would like to invite all former players (junior varsity and varsity) and their families back for an alumni game and picnic.

There will be a slow pitch game beginning at 11 a.m. followed by a picnic and photos. There will be a $20 charge per family and each player will get a t-shirt. There will be a bounce house for the kids with this years players acting as babysitters.

You can register on facebook at 2011 Seymour Softball Alumni Weekend, or email coach Ken Pereiras at kpereiras@seymourschools.org. They need a response by May 1 so they can order t-shirts.

It was Marissa Pacelli, not Marissa Esposito, who had a go-ahead two-run single in the top of the 11th inning that lifted the East Haven softball team to a 5-3 win over North Haven on Friday. Incorrect information was called into the Register.

Pacelli had three hits.

No. 7 Seymour defeated No. 9 Woodland 5-0 in an NVL battle between unbeatens.
Click here to read the game story.

Click here to view roundup/linescores

Click here to vote for the STAR of the day, including Cheshire's Nicole D'Amato and North Branford's Sam Hemstock.

Seymour 5, Woodland 0
(at Beacon Falls)

Recap: Emily Coyne and Maggie Crocamo each had three hits to lead the unbeaten Wildcats past the previously unbeaten Hawks in this battle of teams ranked in the Register Top 10 poll. It was also a rematch of last season's NVL title game won by Woodland.

Seymour: Steph Burt had two hits and an RBI, Coyne had three hits, a run and an RBI, and Crocamo had three hits and an RBI.

Woodland: Emily Wirsing, Rebecca Norton and Brooke Leshin had the only hits for the Hawks.

WP: Kelly Ferris, Seymour (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K) Improves to 4-0

LP: Sam Lee, Woodland (7 IP, 11 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K)

Records: No. 7 Seymour 7-0 (5-0 NVL Brass); Woodland 8-1 (5-1)

Click here for roundup/linescores.


Click here to vote for Wednesday's star.



Check out today's print edition to view the winter season's All-Area teams.

Southington pitcher Jess Davenport will likely miss a month of action after tearing a piece of the meniscus in her right knee. Read the full story here.


Southington is 4-1, ranked No. 5 in the Register Top 10 Poll, and plays at home against Newington today at 4 p.m.

Join us for a Live Chat with Amity coach Bob Purcell tonight at 7:30 at www.nhregister.com.

More than just a softball game will take place when Derby visits Valley rival Ansonia on Thursday (4 p.m.).

The teams have joined up to hold a fund raising event for breast cancer awareness.

The game will serve as a benefit for the Connecticut affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. Admission is $5 for all ages to enter the game. There will be food, raffle prizes and a 50-50 raffle. Proceeds will be donated to the Griffin Hospital (Derby) cancer center and to the Komen foundation.

"We're just trying to do as much as we can that day to raise money for breast cancer awareness because it hit so close to home for me and my wife," Derby coach Joe DiMartino said. "The girls really wanted to do something to make a difference."

Earlier this year, DiMartino's wife Lori was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. Two weeks ago she had a double mastectomy and will find out later this week the course of treatment she will undergo during her recovery.

After Lori DiMartino's diagnosis, the Red Raiders decided to hold a charity event, something the softball team is doing for the first time.

The DiMartino's daughter Jordyn is a senior captain at Derby.

"We decided to play a game with Ansonia and make the proceeds go to breast cancer awareness," Jordyn said. "I think it would be a good thing if this could continue with Ansonia and be something that we can always do. "

Said Joe DiMartino: "I really wanted to have a Valley school involved. Tony (Piccolo), the AD over there (at Ansonia) has been fantastic. He's been very supportive, as has Lindsay Wheeler (the Ansonia coach). I think it's going to be a great day. I hope we get a lot of people to come out to support the cause and see a good softball game."

Joe DiMartino says the Derby players and coaches have worn pink shoelaces this season. (Pink is the international symbol for breast cancer awareness). His wife's diagnosis has certainly put life in perspective.

"You don't think it's ever going to happen to you and then it does," Joe DiMartino said. "There's definitely bigger things than softball. We're trying to make things as normal as possible for Jordyn because this is her senior year. I haven't missed too much as far as games or practice, but my wife comes first with appointments and everything else. I'm lucky to have such great assistants that I can leave the team with and know they will get everything done even if I'm not there."

Each Monday, the Register will highlight last week's top performances in Diamond Gems.

Miranda Baldassare, East Haven: Hit a two-run home run for the Easties in a 5-4 win over Mercy on Monday.

Alena Bounocore, Lyman Hall: Had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Trojans to a 9-1 win over Hand on Thursday.

Brittany Lampert, Shelton: Went 4-for-5 with two stolen bases and two runs in an 11-8 win over East Haven on Friday.

Sam Monaco, North Branford: Had three hits, including a double, to lead the Thunderbirds to a 6-5 win over Haddam-Killingworth on Monday.

Colleen Murphy, Hamden: Had two hits, including a two-run homer, in a 5-1 win over Lyman Hall on Friday.

Click here to view this week's Top 10 Poll.

To read Monday's notebook, which features Maloney and Coginchaug headed off to Disney World and a piece on Old Saybrook's 4-1 start, click here.


Hopkins is the spotlight team of the week.

One Shoreline Conference softball coach isn't completely sold with the league's decision to expand the postseason league tournament.

This year, every Shoreline Conference team that qualifies for the state tournament (by winning eight games or more) will make the SLC tournament field.

In past years, only the top 4 teams qualified for the Shoreline tournament.

"I have mixed feelings," Old Saybrook coach Laura Westner said. "There's more of a chance for us to qualify, not that I think we would never be one of the four. I'm excited that they extended it but not really with as much as they did."

The motion to include all teams that qualified for the state tournament was passed by a majority of the league's coaches. Westner suggested expanding it to include six teams.

"I'm not a fan of a four-day tournament," Westner said, "which it will be if enough teams qualify. I kind of wished I pushed for just a top 6. We'll see how it goes."

Old Saybrook is currently 4-1.

If 12 teams qualify, the top four teams will advance to the quarterfinals while the other eight will play first round games.

To view the complete poll, click here.

Roundup and linescores can be found here.

To vote for Saturday's STAR, click here.

To vote for the Team of the Week, click here.

Sacred Heart Academy was voted the Register TEAM of the WEEK in an on-line reader poll. Click here for a story recapping what the Pacers accomplished last week.

Below is a video featuring the four SHA captains, Katie Winkle, Angelika Stamos, Lyndsey Thompson and Erika Guarino.




On Friday, SHA defeated Hand 8-4 in SCC action. Read the game story here.

For Friday's roundup/linescores, click here.

To vote for Friday's STAR, which includes Career pitcher Brianna Longley, click here.

Sacred Heart Academy 8, Hand 4
(at Madison)

Recap: Maegan Rodriguez and Katie Winkle each drove in two runs, while freshman Molly Flowers allowed four hits and struck out 10 to lead the Pacers to this SCC interdivision victory.

Sacred Heart Academy: Winkle was 2-for-4 with two runs, Lyndsey Thompson had two hits, a run and an RBI, and Jenna DeMartino scored twice.

Hand: Annie Horton had a hit and two runs.

WP: Flowers (7 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 10 K)

LP: Horton (5 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 6 BB, 5 K)

Team records: Sacred Heart Academy 4-1; Hand 3-2

To read about Shelton's 4-3 victory over Foran, click here. For Thursday's roundup and linescores, click here. To vote for Thursday's star, click here.

Shelton defeated Foran 4-3 on Thursday. Read the game story here.

Recap: Designated player Emily Komornik hit a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead the host Gaels to this SCC interdivision victory.

Shelton: Sam Rossetti had two hits, a run and an RBI. Brittany Lampert had two hits and a run.

Foran: Rachel Booth had two hits. Brooke Phelan, Rebeka DeRosa and Dayna Finch had RBIs.

WP: Rossetti (3-1) 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2BB, 7 K

LP: Taylor Harkness (2-2) 6 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 1 BB

Records: Foran 2-2; Shelton 3-1

Career is off to a 2-1 start. Read the feature story here, with video.

Career captain Nikki Perugini talks about the Panthers' 2-1 start and expectations for this season. Read a feature story on Career in the Register print edition on Thursday. The story should be posted on-line at http://www.nhregister.com/ later tonight.

The entire slate of area games on Wednesday was wiped out due to rain. Here's what to look forward to on Thursday.

Weather.come calls says it will be "Partly Cloudy" Thursday with a high of 63 degrees and a 20 percent chance of precipitation with winds from the NNW at 10 mph. Should be able to get all scheduled games in as long as grounds crews are able to work on the fields.

Here are the area games scheduled on Thursday:

Ridgefield (1-3) at No. 2 St. Joseph (3-0), 4 p.m.: The Cadets, the defending Class M champions, have averaged 10 runs per game through three games.

Wolcott (3-0) at Ansonia (1-2) , 3:45 p.m.: Wolcott expected to make run at Naugatuck Valley League title.

Derby (1-3) at Seymour (2-0), 4:30 p.m.: Seymour a perennial power in the NVL. Looking like that trend will continue this year.

West Haven (2-2) at North Haven (1-2), 3:45 p.m.: West Haven has allowed 16 and 10 runs in their last two games.

Guilford (2-1) at Sheehan (2-1), 3:54 p.m.: Both teams are coming off their first loss of the season.

Foran (2-1) at Shelton (2-1), 3:45 p.m.: Could be the best game of the game, and where I will be on Thursday.

Mercy (1-3) at Branford (0-3), 3:45 p.m.: Not the kind of start to the season either team expected.

Portland (0-3) at North Branford (2-1), 3:45 p.m.: North Branford, the defending Shoreline Conference tournament champions, have the talent to repeat.

Coginchaug (2-1) at Old Saybrook (3-0), 3:45 p.m.: Old Saybrook is off to a quick start, and the Rams are hoping its winning ways continue.

Haddam-Killingworth (1-1) at Morgan (1-2), 3:45 p.m.: H-K opened the season with a victory over Old Lyme and then loss a tough 6-5 decision to North Branford.

Bunnell (2-1) at New Fairfield (1-2), 4:15 p.m.: Bunnell expected to contend for South-West Conference title.

Notre Dame-Fairfield (1-3) at Westbrook (0-2), 4 p.m.: This non-league tilt should be competitive.

Hand (3-0) at Lyman Hall (1-2), 4 p.m.: A win here for Lyman Hall would go a long way in boosting the Trojans' confidence.

CSC
Kaynor Tech at Platt Tech (Foote Field), ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
NVL
Wolcott at Ansonia, ppd. to today, 3:45 p.m
Derby at Seymour, ppd. to today, 4:30 p.m.
SCC interdivision
West Haven at North Haven, ppd. to today, 3:45 p.m.
Hamden at Wilbur Cross, ppd. to Tuesday
Hillhouse at Amity, ppd. to Saturday, noon
Guilford at Sheehan, ppd. to today, 3:45 p.m.
Foran at Shelton, ppd. to today, 3:45 p.m.
Sacred Heart Academy at Career, ppd. to Tuesday, noon
Mercy at Branford, ppd. to today, 4 p.m.
Law at Cheshire, ppd. to Saturday, 11 a.m.
Hand at Lyman Hall, ppd. to today, 4 p.m.
Shoreline
Portland at North Branford, ppd. to today, 3:45 p.m.
Coginchaug at Old Saybrook, ppd. to today, 3:45 p.m.
Haddam-Killingworth at Morgan, ppd. to today, 3:45 p.m.
FCIAC
Ridgefield at St. Joseph, ppd. to today, 4 p.m.
Non-league
Notre Dame-Fairfield at Westbrook, 4 p.m.
SWC
Bunnell at New Fairfield, ppd. to today 4:15 p.m.

Through three games, Career is almost half way to last season's win total, when the Panthers finished 5-14.

The Panthers (2-1) opened the season with a 9-0 loss to Foran, but then earned a 9-0 victory over non-league opponent Platt Tech and defeated SCC foe Hamden 11-7.

With a roster filled with several returning veterans and promising underclassmen, Career is hoping to make a push for its first state tournament berth since 2005. The Panthers also want to change some people's perceptions of a city softball program: that it could be more than just a basketball school. The Career girls' basketball team won the Class LL state title this past winter.

"I think we just need to not listen to what everyone says about us," Career senior captain Nikki Perugini said, "the stereotype being that we're not a good team. If we let it get to our heads then we're not going to be a good team.

"It's hard because we don't have a home field at our school. We don't really get as much people (to watch) like the basketball or volleyball teams, the winter sports, do. A lot of teachers and the students try to make it out to East Shore (Park, where Career plays home games), but it's difficult with ride situations for (the students) to get there."

Bria Moore (first base), Alivia Roseboro (infield), Nicole Anderson (utility) and Ashley Franklin (outfield) all played basketball for Career this past season. Their success on the court, though, limited the time they spent preparing for softball.

"Our three better players all play travel ball," Career coach Ron Rosarbo said. "The rest of the girls put down their gloves in October after fall ball is over and don't pick them up again until March. You get an athlete like Bria Moore, who hit .461 and was an all-(SCC) Oronoque Division selection (last year), who really doesn't pick up a bat until the season starts."

Rosarbo, who coaches the Connecticut Raiders summer travel league team, says sophomore pitcher Brianna Longley and junior catcher Isabel Lopez compete during the summer and that Roseboro, a sophomore, is expected to do so as well this summer. Playing multiple sports, and being successful in it, has its benefits, though.

"I am blessed with (players who are) athletes," Rosarbo said. "Girls that come and listen and are used to that; girls who come from state championship teams. They're bringing that tradition to softball."

For more on Career, check out the Register print edition later in the week for a feature story and video.

Old Lyme 12, Valley Regional 2: Kelsey Riggs had two hits and scored four times and Alison Scott had two hits and three runs for Old Lyme in a Shoreline Conference home win.
Sammy Yuknat struck out nine for Old Lyme (2-2). Valley Regional dropped to 0-4.

(Was the only area game played Tuesday)

Click here for all of Monday's action.

Each Monday, the Register will highlight last week's top performances in Diamond Gems.

Tory Brinkley, Guilford: Had three hits and two runs in a 7-3 victory over Lyman Hall on Friday.

Joanna Fekieta, West Haven: Went 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs in a 5-0 victory over Lyman Hall on Wednesday.

Brianna Longley, Career: Had a single, double and a triple, and was the winning pitcher in an 11-7 victory over Hamden on Friday.

Breana Shepard, St. Joseph: Had four hits and three runs in an 8-3 victory over Greenwich on Wednesday.

Lauren Zambrano, Lyman Hall: Went 3-for-4, and was the winning pitcher, allowing just five hits in a 3-0 victory over Mercy on Saturday.

Click here to vote for this week's best.

Sacred Heart Academy 4, Sheehan 0

Recap: Senior designated player Carly Pietrosimone leads the visiting Pacers past the Titans in this SCC interdivision contest at Wallingford. Pietrosimone had two hits and two RBIs. Pitchers Ana DeMaio and Molly Flowers combined on a one-hitter for Sacred Heart.

Sacred Heart Academy: Maegan Rodriquez had two hits and three runs.

Sheehan: Casey Gavin had her team's only hit.

WP: DeMaio (3.1 IP, 1 H, 0R, 3BB, 7 K)

SV: Flowers (3.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K)

LP: Dani Thuerling (4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 8 K)

Team records: Sacred Heart Academy 3-0; Sheehan 2-1

Click here to read the story.

Bob Purcell has a pet peeve.

“I had two daughters who played sports,” said Purcell, the head coach at Amity since 2009. “It was always a pet peeve of mine that high school girls are weak. They don’t train. They play year round and they think that is getting in shape. It’s not.”

Since taking over the Spartans’ program, Purcell has implemented various strength training and conditioning exercises. Purcell believes it’s important for his players to be in the best physical shape possible.

“First thing when I got here we did weight training,” Purcell said. “The girls like it. For some of the girls, this is the first time they are lifting weights so you see the gains really quickly and they get excited by it. Some girls continue with it throughout the year. Some of them don’t, but then we come back the next year and do it all over again.”

The off-season training began in January after the student-athletes returned from winter vacation.

Here’s what Amity did:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Weight lifting

Tuesday, Thursday
Agility and conditioning

“During agility and conditioning,” Purcell said, “we do sprints, hurdles, ladders, and martial arts punching and kicking to make it fun.”

Purcell said he put together a training program based on a combination of what is used at UConn, Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac.

“The girls need to play half a year and then they need to rest and train the other half of the year,” Purcell said. “When they get to college that’s the first thing they do, they’re in the weight room. Girls don’t lift weights. They really should. They’re upper bodies are really weak. This team is pretty strong. We have about five or six girls who can squat over 225 pounds. It was a good off-season. When some of the girls hit, you can see the power coming through.”

Senior catcher Jen Post says during the conditioning portion they do running, hill work and sprints. As for the martial arts?

“We stand in lines and practice high-kicking and we would chant,” Post said. “Not really chant, but ‘hiyahs’”. It was fun.”

Post believes there are benefits to the training routines Amity did during the preseason.

“With softball you’re prone to a lot of injuries because you’re not moving around too much in the field,” Post said. “If you do something wrong you can easily get hurt. It’s good to be stronger and have better endurance.”

Despite playing one of the more physical positions on the field, Post said she followed the same program as the other players.

“I won’t say there’s anything different I did,” Post said. “I probably focused a little more on my legs so they’re stronger and I can last through all seven innings. I pretty much did the same routines as the other girls.”

Via the Derby softball program:

The Ansonia vs. Derby game on April 21 at 4 p.m. at Ansonia High will be a benefit for the Connecticut Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation that raises awareness for breast cancer.

Admission is $5 for all ages. There will be food, raffle prizes, and a 50-50 raffle. All donations are welcomed and appreciated. All proceeds go to the Komen foundation.

Non-league

Career 9, Platt Tech 0

East Catholic 2, Coginchaug 0

Maloney 13, E.O. Smith 0

NVL

Watertown 10, Ansonia 0

SCC interdivision

Sheehan 2, Foran 0

Shoreline

Hale-Ray 18, Westbrook 0

Old Saybrook 17, Portland 0

Old Saybrook 17, Portland 0: Pitcher Kasey Commander had eight strikeouts and allowed only two hits and she helped her cause at the plate going 4-for-5 with five RBIs and two doubles to lead the Rams to their Shoreline Conference win. Paige Tribucchi added three hits, two runs scored and an RBI and Laure Macleod had a solo homer for the Rams (1-0).

Sheehan 2, Foran 0: Lex Bukowski went 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and a run to lift the Titans to their SCC interdivision win at Wallingford.

Casey Gavin drove in a run for the Titans (2-0). Foran falls to 1-1.

Foran 9, Career 0: Pitcher Taylor Harkness had 10 strikeouts and Brooke Phelan went 4-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Lions to their SCC interdivision win.
Rebeka DeRosa added three hits and three RBIs and Gina Georgetti had two hits and two RBIs for the Eagles. Izzy Lopez led Career with a double.

Hand 9, North Haven 3: Katelyn Wall went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the host Tigers to this SCC interdivision win at Madison.
Wall also earned the victory, striking out five for Hand (1-0). Arianna Pustari hit a solo home run for the Indians (0-1).

Seymour 7, Watertown 2: Kim Ferris had a single and a double and Katie Petroski had two singles for the host Wildcats in this NVL victory.
Grace Nisbet drove in two runs for Seymour (1-0).

Sheehan 17, Hamden 4: Alex Ottochian went 4-for-5, including a double, and three RBIs to lead the visiting Titans to this SCC interdivison win.
Shannon Knox had two hits, including a triple for the Green Dragons.

Sacred Heart Academy 6, Amity 4: Linsey DeDominico had three hits and one run to lead the visiting Pacers to this SCC interdivision win at Woodbridge.

East Haven 7, Law 4: Melissa Nelson and Krysta Kubik each had hits and an RBI for the Eagles in this SCC interdivision loss at Milford.

Naugatuck 8, Derby 1: Lianne Wallace hit a home run, had five RBIs and scored for the visiting Greyhounds in this NVL victory.
Melissa LaBonte had two hits and an RBI, Sarah Chandler had two hits and a run, and Gillain Fortier had a hit and two runs for Naugatuck (1-0). Jordyn DiMartino had an RBI double for the Red Raiders (0-1).

Woodland 7, Ansonia 6: Brooke Leshin had a three-run triple to lead the Hawks to their NVL win. Ashley Bowns had a three-run homer and Hannah Turner added three hits for the Chargers.

No. 2 St. Joseph 8, Greenwich 3: Breana Shepard had four hits and three runs to lead the visiting Cadets to this Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference victory.
Jen Vasquez had three hits and four RBIs for St. Joseph (1-0).

Guilford 5, Branford 0: Leah Torre allowed just three hits, struck out 15, and had two doubles to lead the host Indians to this SCC interdivision win.
Brittney Distante had two RBIs, while Becky Mahoney and Brittney Maio each drove in a run for Guilford (1-0). Emily Sears had a triple for the Hornets (0-1).

Non-league
Montville 5, Valley Regional 2
Stratford 15, Platt Tech 15 (called due to darkness in Top 7, no makeup date announced)
NVL
Woodland 7, Ansonia 6
Naugatuck 8, Derby 1
Seymour 7, Watertown 2
SCC interdivision
East Haven 7, Law 4
Foran 9, Career 0
Cheshire 8, Mercy 1
West Haven 5, Lyman Hall 0
Sacred Heart Academy 6, Amity 4
Sheehan 17, Hamden 4
Hand 9, North Haven 3
Guilford 5, Branford 0
Shoreline
North Branford 12, Morgan 1
FCIAC
St. Joseph 8, Greenwich 3
Preps
Rye 16, Hamden Hall 3

@nhrsoftball

Senior second baseman Joanna Fekieta had three hits, including a two-run single, to lift the Westies to this SCC interdivision win at Biondi Field.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when West Haven (1-0) scored all five of its runs.

Cindy Johnson added a two-run double, and Sammy Johnson had an RBI single for the Westies.

Christina Andrulat, Justina George and Tori Lillard had the only hits for Lyman Hall (0-1).

First game of the year. Will be at Biondi Field for Lyman Hall at West Haven. 3:45 p.m. first pitch. Follow on twitter @nhrsoftball

The Shoreline Conference tournament has expanded to include every league team that qualifies for the state tournament. Here is a breakdown of the SLC tournament rules: Teams who qualify for the conference tournament will be seeded by their 16-game conference record. The amount of teams that qualify will depend on when the tournament starts and will affect pairings. If 12 teams qualify, the schedule would be: First round 12 at 5 11 at 6 10 at 7 9 at 8 Teams seeded 1-4 would receive byes. Quarterfinals 12/5 winner at 4 11/6 winner at 3 10/7 winner at 2 9/8 winner at 1 Semifinals 12/5 winner vs. 4 winner vs. 9/8 winner vs. 1 winner 11/6 winner vs. 3 winner vs. 10/7 winner vs. 2 winner

For our featured story on the pitching mound being moved back three feet, click here. Team-by-team capsules. Preseason Top 10 Poll. Conference previews. 5 Storylines to Watch. 10 Games to Watch. 25 Players to Watch.

Waterford, which has won 39 straight games dating back to 2009 and consecutive Class L state titles, is ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll. To view the complete poll, click here.

Season opens on Wednesday. The Register will preview the season in Tuesday's print editions, and will post stories later Monday on-line at www.nhregister.com. Follow us on Twitter @nhrsoftball and check out this blog (http://nhrsoftball.blogspot.com/) during the season for softball news.